Mike’s Musings- 273 pound loss makes the impossible, possible

Michael Wilcox, Publish/Editor

Frankly, I get embarrassed sometimes when our front page is all doom and gloom. For instance last week we had stories on The Remedy Restaurant burning to the ground, three arrested in Lake for meth and a Farwell couple facing CSC and kiddie porn charges.

I suppose that’s what people like to read. We hear endlessly how local stores run out of the most recent edition by end of day Friday. That’s good for us, but I’m not sure is an accurate depiction of the wonderful communities we serve.

Instead of writing about the horrors of meth, which was my topic as of last evening, I’ve decided to retell the story of Theresa Barowski, a lady we reported on in late February, who incredibly lost 273 pounds.

As you may know Barowski was invited to The TODAY SHOW in March, where she told her story. The Lake of the Pines resident, who works at MMCC and attends church at St. Agnes in Marion, weighed 428 pounds and was wheelchair- bound in January of 2011, when she decided it was time to better her life.

The defining moments were the death of her beloved grandmother, where at the funeral, her cousin joked about her weight. A couple of weeks later Barowski said she woke up with her two of her teeth on her pillow.

“They were decayed from all the sugared soda I had been drinking,” said Barowski. Then she told her doctor, “I just can’t live like this anymore.” His retort, “If I were you, I’d be concerned about living period.”

That sprung Barowski in to action. No more Mountain Dew. She put herself on a strict 1000 calorie per day regimen, and has maintained it to this very day. She also began drinking up to two gallons of water a day. In the last year she began walking, first to her mailbox, and now she is walking nearly a mile a day.

I don’t know Barowski personally, but I must say, I’m very proud of her. Through sheer determination, she has remade herself, and now has this great life moving forward. I know I have tried to lose a few pounds in the past and find it very difficult to stop eating the sweets and junk food I so crave. Heck did I say difficult, I should say impossible.

I have also tried to maintain a serious exercise regimen- treadmill, sit-ups, jogging, etc. Again the lack of will power, has put me on the sidelines more often than not. I think I dream of reasons why I shouldn’t get my lazy butt on the treadmill.

I don’t think I’m unique in that regard. Many of us talk about getting on that diet, but very few of us follow through. Barowski is a shining example of what can happen when one has determination and will power guiding their life.

“I’ve been reluctant to talk about the weight loss because I’m embarrassed and ashamed for being that big in the first place,” said Barowski. “But even if it helps just one person to change their life, it’s worth all the embarrassment.”

Forget about the constant barrage of drug busts, CSC charges, and nasty fires, this to me is the feel good story of the year. The now, svelte 155, Theresa Barowski is an inspiration to all of us who would like to achieve a goal. Remember, she was on her death bed. We too, can summon the will power and determination to also make our goals come true.